Highway-signal



UNITED STATE PLFENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. GOURLEY, 0F MILTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES H. DAVEY, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

HIGHWAY-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented ont. i9, 1920.

Application lcd April 8, 1919. Serial No. 288,472.

To all fui/10m it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. GoUnLnY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milton, county of Norfolk, State of Massa chusetts, have invented an 1m `)rovement in Highway-Signals, of which t c following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specilication, like characterf en the drawings representing like parts in each of the several views.

This invention relates to highway signals of the type sometimes known as silent policemen, which are placed at highway intersections, turns in the road and other places where warning or directive signals of a permanent character are required for handling the traffic.

A principal object of the invention is to provide :i simple and inexpensive, ble and effective signal, adapted to e placed in any desired location, being equipped so as to be conspicuously visible both by day and by night.

In accordance with my invention, a signal post or standard is provided, equipped with lamps that may be supplied with electric current from the ordinary street lighting systm, or any other desired source, these lamps being arranged so as to indicate clearly to travelers their proper direction. A further object is to provide a highway signal device that may be quickl and easily located in position for use, an also easily disconnected and removed, the arrangement being such that when the signal is removed from the highway the current connection therefor in the highway is automatically closed and protected from in'ury. Je..

The foregoing and other o jects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in` connection with the ac Companying drawings and the distinctive features of novelty will then be pointed out )Set relia- The base 10 of the device is preforabl f, and as shown, formed as a dished, externally convex plate which may be a metal casting. To this base is secured an upright, tubular, standard 11 which may be of metal pipe of proper size. (')n the top of this tubular standard is secured a platform 12 to which is fixed a veitical plate or board 125 consti tuting the signal proper. This may be formed of a metallic plate or a board of wood, o1' any suitable material, and while the particular shape thereof herein shown with a curved top 13a is thought preferable,

the invention is not limited to any particular outline of this plate or board.

To this curved top 13 of the plate are fixed as shown, a series of spaced apart vertically ex ltending pins 14 which add to the artistic appearance of the device, and are also adapted to render the device less available as a rest for any one seeking physical support. The platel 13 may have any proper road rules exhibited on the opposite sides thereof, as indicated at 13b and in the top thereof may be socketed at 13 any desired display device such as the flag 15.

In accordance with iny invention the lower portion of the board or plate 13 is cut away to forma generall heinispherical passage 16 therethrough andy extendin into this passage from opposite sides of the card are lamps 17, 18, these lamps being suitably socketed in the adjacent side portions of the board.. These lamps are equipped with rellecting'shields 17a, 18, respectively, these l reflecting shields being at opposite sides of the respective lamps,-f. e. as shown 17'* is at the farther side of the lamp 17 While the Vunderstood t at only one lamp projects its light in either direction. However, the arrangement is such that should either lain -be extinguised from any cause, enoug light will be iven out around the reflecting shield of the other lam'p to illumine` the adjacent edges of the signal and make its presence apparent to travelers from the opposite direction.

To protect the lamps l preferably provide wire screens i9 carried on frames 1.9 hinged at the respective sides of the board at the top of the hem'ispherical passage as indicated at 19" .so that these screens may be readily swung back to permit to the lamps, but normally swing,r downward into a protective position over the lamps by their own weight. For operating the lamps 1T andl 18 conduit cord or cable 20 extends up through the standard 11, this cord havingat its lower end the usual plug 20L adapted to engage in a socket 21 which is iixcd on an insulating base 22 in a box Q3 en'ibedded in the highway at the location where the signal is to he positioned. The socket 21 is supplied with a current by an umlerground conduit 24 from any suitable sourciwhirfh :nay be the ordinary .street light system ol" the locality. The box 23 is perterably devised with a hinged cover 93a with a stout spring :23 engaging such cover and lendingl constaiitly to close thc saine. Thu in use, the rover 23 may be swung,r bach until it rests on the lground as seen in Fig. l and it is cauaed to remain in this position by the weight of the signal base 1U resting thereon. "hen from any ,cause the signal may be dislocated,y the plug 201 will of course pull out oli' the socket 2l. and as the basc lU removed from the cofver7 23a it will at once swing under the action of the spring 23 to close the box thus protecting the saine from injury and restoring the road surface. The base l0 is preferably provided with a hand hole l0 theretlfough adapted to permit access to the interior'ol thc box, for attending;` to the electric, corr nef-tion 2U, il when the signal is in place over the box.

Vith the described construction if will.

lic note-:il that the signal may be left nor-` mally connected with the lighting servico of' the locality so that the lamps may be lighted automatically along with the reguv lar street lamps as darkness comes on, and

turned olf therewith when no longer required thus dispensing with any need ol' special attention to the signal except when it may he dislocated by a collision or other- Wise, in which case it may be quickly and easily replaced and ire-coiinected. .l am aware that the invention may bc embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or cesential attributes thereof and l therefore desire the present ernbodiment to be considered in all .respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference beingr had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope ol' the invention.

I- avinpr described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat cnt is:

l. A higliway signal device, comprising a boitv embedded in a highway and equipped with electric circuit connections, a standard equipped with a relatively wide and massive base adapted to bc removably fitted. over said box. an upper portion of said standard beinpj equipped with indicia for the g'uid ance ol` travelers, lamps mounted in an opening in the upper part ol. said standard equipped with reflectors adapted to project the light thereof in opposite directions and also toward opposite sides of the device, and electrical connections to said lamps from the base of said standard constructed and arranged for yielding detachment from the connections in. said box.

2. A high way Signal devicecomprising a box embedded ina highwayequipped with a cover hinged thereto and sprinpr px 1 sed to close said bof, a/standard equipped with a relatively wide and massive base adapted to bdi'itted over said. box and to hold said box cove-r open, said box having electric circuit cou'nechions fitted therein-` and Said standard equipped with signal lights hav ing?r electrical colinections to the base thereol fitted for yielding detachment to the connections in said box. l

ln testimony whereof, I have naine to this specification.

JSEPH H. GOURLEY.

signed my 

